The Impact of the Arts on Traveller Education

The aim of this study was to explore the impact that the Arts, (that is the study of visual art, drama, music, dance, creative writing, film and video expression), have on the educational process within Irish Traveller Education Centres whose students are widely recognised as the most highly marginalised group within Irish society. Art programmes appear to induce a ¿flow¿ state, as identified by Csikszentmihalyi, that he defines as a state of optimal awareness in which the subject becomes lost in the action of the moment and results in a heightened integration and differentiation of the psyche (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990). The Arts appear to ignite either through motivation or cognitive stimulation an increase in academic and social awareness. This study confirms the influence of ¿flow¿ and shows how it leads to an acceleration of the growth of social and political consciousness within marginalized groups. This subsequently affects academic awareness. If the tenets of this study are correct, the status of Arts education may be recognised as a valuable asset in its own right and as an instrument of educational equity both for Travellers and other marginalised communities.